New Delhi: Seeking to allay apprehensions in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said no steps will be taken on the Tipaimukh power project which would "adversely affect" that country.
The assurance was given when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina`s two advisers - Mashiur Rahman and Gowher Rizvi - called on him here.
"The Prime Minister reiterated the assurance he had given to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Bangladesh in September 2011, that India will not take steps on Tipaimukh project that will adversely affect Bangladesh," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
Singh was responding when the Advisers raised the Tipaimukh project issue.
The spokesman noted that Indian government has already conveyed to the Bangladesh government its readiness to hold discussions on the Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project. Bangladesh had earlier sent a 10-member delegation of political leaders which had visited the Tipaimukh project site in 2009 and left convinced that it would not hurt the interests of that country.
However, lately there have been renewed concerns with regard to the 1500 MW project being constructed on Barak river, which have assumed political dimensions in that country.
Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia wrote to Singh last week expressing her apprehensions over the project.
Singh wrote back, saying the project in no way would affect the interests of Bangladesh. PTI